All of this month we are in the sacred and joyful season of Lent, preparing for our Easter celebration on April 5th. Often we don’t think of Lent as a “sacred season” or even less as a “joyful season.” But it truly is, for it is a time to turn wholeheartedly to our loving God to receive his infinite mercy and forgiveness. What could be more joyful than that?

Often people don’t think of the Religious life as joyful, either. I hear parents say that they wouldn’t want their child to join a Religious community because they would want him/her to be happy. I’m not sure where that negative image of our life comes from, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Our following the Lord according to the vision of St. Francis isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do, but it is a joy-filled life with many built-in blessings.